Vehicle recall

Grumpy_chap

The OP has not said how old the car is, but if I have got this correct, the timeline is as follows:

• 26th May - letter received, possible brake servo issue, stop driving the car immediately
• OP incurred costs for alternate transport and there was an aborted visit because of COVID
• 27th June - MB confirmed vehicle requires remedial works
• Next Monday, MB will collect the car and hold on to it until September / October to repair, taking a long time because of parts availability.

If MB are really taking the car and holding it rather than leaving it with the OP, I assume the fault is genuinely dangerous and no interim solution would allow the car to be used in the mean-time.

To cover the future inconvenience, MB offered a scrap the car option or £30 - £40 per day costs.  If MB are really saying they'll have the car for three months, that daily amount would work out to £3k.  That is a lot of "dead" money to MB, plus MB need to pay for transporter, and the actual repair.

I really would not often say this but, if the car is rather older, it may be worth exploring what the "scrap the car" option would give the OP.  If they enhance the value of the car by a good chunk of that £3k daily costs contribution, it could be an option worth consideration.

jefaz07

Car_54 said:

Th02msn said:

Yes but they did not give customers that option.  

But - as per previous questions - did you ask them?

I have, this week, had a safety recall from Mercedes’ and I’m getting a courtesy car while mine is repaired. I just asked as I need it for work. 

Th02msn

jefaz07 said:

Car_54 said:

Th02msn said:

Yes but they did not give customers that option.  

But - as per previous questions - did you ask them?

I have, this week, had a safety recall from Mercedes’ and I’m getting a courtesy car while mine is repaired. I just asked as I need it for work. 

It appears that there is different levels of service being offered up and down the country.

Th02msn

Grumpy_chap said:

The OP has not said how old the car is, but if I have got this correct, the timeline is as follows:

• 26th May - letter received, possible brake servo issue, stop driving the car immediately
• OP incurred costs for alternate transport and there was an aborted visit because of COVID
• 27th June - MB confirmed vehicle requires remedial works
• Next Monday, MB will collect the car and hold on to it until September / October to repair, taking a long time because of parts availability.

If MB are really taking the car and holding it rather than leaving it with the OP, I assume the fault is genuinely dangerous and no interim solution would allow the car to be used in the mean-time.

To cover the future inconvenience, MB offered a scrap the car option or £30 - £40 per day costs.  If MB are really saying they'll have the car for three months, that daily amount would work out to £3k.  That is a lot of "dead" money to MB, plus MB need to pay for transporter, and the actual repair.

I really would not often say this but, if the car is rather older, it may be worth exploring what the "scrap the car" option would give the OP.  If they enhance the value of the car by a good chunk of that £3k daily costs contribution, it could be an option worth consideration.

Thanks for comment.

You are absolutely 100% correct with all that information.

Im not entirely sure how the scrappage scheme works.  It is a 2011 MB. 100k miles but it serves its purpose fine and other than the recall, is mechanically sound. Its maintained meticulously.

You are right - MB acknowledge that it will be a costly affair for them.

All I'm asking for is to be reimbursed for the months hire from receiving letter to being diagnosed as faulty.  I was ordered strictly not to drive it.

iwb100

Sandtree said:

Th02msn said:

Hi everyone.  Looking for advice on this one….

On May 26th 2022 I received a recall notice from Mercedes regarding possible issue with brake servo booster.  The recall notice stated clearly not to drive the vehicle with immediate effect.  Mercedes would arrange for a technician to inspect the vehicle.  In the meantime, I had no option but to hire a vehicle.

A technician arrived on Monday 6th June but I had just newly tested positive for covid so I let the chap know and he decided that it would be best to reschedule the visit.

Anyway - technician arrived again on Monday 27th June and performed all necessary checks and indeed found the vehicle to be defective.  Arrangements were made to have it uplifted and repaired.

I contacted Mercedes to see about reclaiming my costs for hire vehicle but was told that they will only reimburse me from date of failure by their technician.

Should they not be liable for cost of hire vehicle from the date I received the recall stating not to drive?

Im now left with a months charge for a hire vehicle through no fault of my own.  It is down to a shortcoming caused by Mercedes that my vehicle is not available for use.

Contacted local citizens advice and they have told me that this level of service is not acceptable.  Just want some more opinions.

Appreciate any help

If you had covid and so were avoiding people etc why did you still need a hire car for that period?
Could you not have arranged for someone else to speak to the technician given you were ill?

I am struggling to see how the 21 days delay between first visit and second visit caused by you stating you were ill was Mercede's fault and what evidence there is of you mitigating your losses, in particular during that period?

Wow. Sorry, but wow. Mercedes have to recall a car because of a known safety issue. That is not the ops fault. Who is down a car. Mercedes are taking responsibility. The op has covid, again not their fault but in no way relevant to the fact their car is not drivable because, Mercedes’ has recalled it.

I don’t often feel stunned but in this case I do. Op getting covid isn’t the issue here. It’s the fact their car has been rendered undrivable through no fault of their own. 

Th02msn

Wow. Sorry, but wow. Mercedes have to recall a car because of a known safety issue. That is not the ops fault. Who is down a car. Mercedes are taking responsibility. The op has covid, again not their fault but in no way relevant to the fact their car is not drivable because, Mercedes’ has recalled it.

I don’t often feel stunned but in this case I do. Op getting covid isn’t the issue here. It’s the fact their car has been rendered undrivable through no fault of their own. 

Thanks for supportive comment

I wasn’t diverting the blame at MB because I had contracted covid. I just thought I better explain the full picture and the reasoning behind the delay in technicians diagnosis.

You are 100% correct though - it is completely irrelevant covid or not.

I just feel that from the time of being notified not to drive until technicians appointment (30 days) Ive had to cover the cost of a replacement vehicle (a four figure sum) through no fault of my own.  Its down to a shortcoming of MB that I’m in this situation.

Have written to MB Headquarters explaining the situation. Waiting to hear back but that was 7 days ago.  I am disappointed with the level of service to say the least.